Heating & Cooling Your Home with Décor

Your thermostat isn’t the only thing you can adjust to set the temperature in your home. There are several methods you can use to increase your heating and cooling efficiency while keeping your home comfortable and maintaining the look and feel of your home’s décor.

Energy efficient drapes

Purchasing energy-efficient drapes can help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The fabric of these curtains is designed to block out light and UV rays, which is great for summer months. Plus, the heavy-duty material can also reduce chill and help you achieve your goal of heating your home with your décor.

In the summer, keep your window shades or curtains down during the day if the air conditioner is running. Blocking out sunlight can help reduce heat inside and prevent your air conditioner from working harder than it needs to.

In the winter, open curtains on south-facing windows during the day to capture the natural heat. At night, close them to reduce the chill.

Other seasonal efficiency tips

Manage moisture in the summer to make your AC more efficient. This means taking your indoor plants outside for the warmer months (if you want the decorative look, opt for fake plants). Another summer tip involves placing window A/C units on the north side of the house when possible where they’ll receive the most amount of shade. Also, keep in mind that incandescent light bulbs not only use a lot of electricity, but they also give off a lot of heat. Switch to florescent or LED light bulbs to lower your electric bill and reduce the amount of ambient heat in your home.

In the winter, focus on updating weather stripping that is cracked or missing, and fill in gaps around windows with caulking. It will look better and prevent cold air from getting into the home.